The inferior cerebellar peduncle carries many types of input and output fibers that are mainly concerned with integrating
proprioceptive sensory input with motor vestibular functions such as
balance and
posture maintenance. It consists of fibers from the four
spinocerebellar tracts that enter the cerebellum: •
Posterior spinocerebellar tract: unconscious
proprioceptive information from the lower part of trunk and lower limb. This tract originates at the ipsilateral
Clarke's nucleus (T1-L1) and travels upward to reach the inferior cerebellar peduncle and synapses within the
spinocerebellum (also known as the paleocerebellum). •
Cuneocerebellar tract: unconscious proprioceptive information from the upper limb and neck. This tract originates at the ipsilateral accessory cuneate nucleus and travels through the inferior cerebellar peduncle to reach the spinocerebellum part of the cerebellum. •
Trigeminocerebellar tract: unconscious proprioceptive information from the face. •
Olivocerebellar tract: "error signal" in movement originates from the cerebral cortex and spinal cord. This tract originates at contralateral inferior olivary nucleus and enters the cerebellum as a
climbing fiber. •
Vestibulocerebellar tract: vestibular information projects onto the
vestibulocerebellum (also known as the archicerebellum). This peduncle also carries information leaving cerebellum: from the
Purkinje cells to the vestibular nuclei in the dorsal
brainstem located at the junction between the
pons and
medulla oblongata. ==See also==